ONLINE GAMBLING LAWS

Online Gaming & Betting Country Laws

Although the internet has an international audience, when it comes to online

gambling and betting regulations, it all depends on the gambling regulations of each
country. The legal age for gambling is that of 18 years old and over in most countries.
Please note that in certain countries one has to be over the age of 21 years old to be
allowed to gamble and bet online.

We do our best to ensure all information we provide is both accurate and up to date.
We aren't lawyers and nothing provided regarding online gaming/betting and country
laws can be considered legal advise.

Afghanistan

There are no physical casinos in Afghanistan, as all forms of gambling are strictly
illegal. There are penalties for those who caught gambling which include jail time and
fines. Although all forms of gambling are illegal in the country, Afghanistan's
gambling laws are outdated and there is no mention of online gaming and betting,
and the state does not actively monitor the online gambling activity of it’s citizens.
Also, estimates say that only around 10% of population have access to the internet in
Afghanistan. Several online casino and betting sites accept people from Afghanistan,
but the people here have to gamble online at their own risk, since there are no
licensing processes in place.

Albania

Albania has a poor economic situation, with the Albanian government ordering betting shops
and casinos to relocate out of residential areas. When it comes to online gaming and betting,
Albania do not have a licensing process, which means no gaming and betting sites are
licensed in Albania. The Government also blocks foreign sites to prevent residents from
gambling. There are penalties for those caught gambling and betting at offshore sites.

Algeria

Being a Muslim country, the legal system in Algeria is based on the Sharia
law, which makes gambling forbidden on legal and religious grounds.
Gambling is considered a Satan’s handiwork, however, horse racing and
national lottery are regulated by Pari Sportif Algerien, although profits are
completely distributed to charities and people in need. Since the introduction
of Internet censorship in 2010, residents of this Islamic state are not allowed
to access many international websites including online gambling sites. Online
gambling is totally illegal in Algeria.

Arab Countries

Arab countries are governed under Islamic law, which prohibits gambling and
in some countries also sports betting. Although gambling is illegal in Arab
countries, there are no laws which prohibit residents from gambling and
betting online with off-shore sites (gaming and betting sites licensed and
regulated in another country). In most Arab countries, gambling laws are
outdated, which date back to when online casinos and sportbooks didn't
exist. While online gaming and betting are not illegal in Arab countries, one
still has to be careful when gambling and betting online.

Argentina

Each province in Argentina has its own regulatory body. Some are strict while
others are simply just a rubber stamp. Having regulatory bodies in each
province has created a huge confusion, not to mention the corruption in
licensing proceedings. the ALEA has been trying for years to have a licensing
process moved to a federal level. Residents in Argentina are most probably
safer when joining online casinos and betting sites which are licensed out of
the country.

Australia

In March of 2017, the Australian Senate approved drastic changes to the

Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, in an attempt to curb the arise of
gambling addiction. The bill was passed and came into affect in September
2017, which saw a ban on all online casinos and poker sites. Residents in
Australia can only bet on certain sports but not on live events and can only
place bets on betting sites licensed and regulated in Australia. A few offshore
online casinos still offer their services to Australian residents, but such players
will be playing games of chance without any player protection if any
withdrawal issues arise.

Azerbaijan
It is believed that in the late 90's, the son of then-president Aliyev had lost a 7
figure amount while gambling. In an effort to deny these allegations, President
Aliyev banned gambling and betting in the country, pushing land-based
gambling underground. Online gaming is licensed in Azerbaijan, although only
one state-owned company can offer the services in the country Residents in
Azerbaijan still play at online casinos, and bet at sportbooks licensed out of
the country, and there is no law which prohibits residents from joining offshore
gaming and betting sites.

Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an Islamic Arab state and therefore adheres to

Sharia or Islamic law, which completely outlaws any form of gambling. There
are therefore no legal land-based or online casinos in Bahrain, nor are there
any bookmakers. The country has held a Grand Prix Formula One
Championship race every year since 2004, but betting on outcomes of this
race is also strictly forbidden. Bahrain has an extremely in-depth Internet
censorship program, where the government block all gambling related sites at
the ISP level, preventing any type of underground market or foreign based
online casino access from happening. It's unclear what penalties would be for
players who would access foreign gambling sites using a VPN since the
population is so small and it's not addressed specifically in their laws. Those
who try to gamble online through VPNs do so at their own risk, and we do not
recommend that type of behavior since it's unclear what the penalties could
be if you were caught.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the few countries under the Islamic rule, in which betting
is not prohibited. While most form of land-based gambling are illegal in
Bangladesh, the country regulates horse racing betting, also run the national
lottery. Online horse racing betting is legalized in Bangladesh. There is no law
which prohibits residents from joining online casinos and sports betting sites
which are licensed out of the country, although one has to be careful as one
could be fined with no more than $5, and penalties could be less than a month
jail, although these penalties are more likely for illegal land-based gambling.

Belarus

Online gaming in Belarus is only permitted on the Government-operated

portal. It is also forbidden for residents in the country to access gambling and
betting sites which do not hold a .by domain.
Belgium

Online gambling is permitted, with The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) or

Kansspelcommissie, began regulating the online market in 2011. The Belgian
Gaming Commission grants online gaming and betting licenses only to those
with existing land based gambling licenses or those companies in partnership
with land based operators. Online gaming and betting operators are only
authorized to provide gaming services to Belgian residents with a license from
the BGC. There are hefty fines not only for the operator but also for players
who places illegal wagers at offshore gaming and betting fine, with players
face fines up to 25,000 Euros while offshore operators will be fined up to
100,000 Euros for accepting bets from Belgian residents.

Benin

Benin's gambling industry is much more advanced than many of other African
countries, having land-based casino that's fully licensed and a national lottery
that's been around since the late 1960s. However, Benin have not taken
much of a position when it comes to online gambling leaving things wide
open, with residents of Benin welcome to play and bet with any foreign online
casino and betting site.

Bolivia

Only recently, Bolivia started regulating land-based gambling, and there is no

talk about online gaming and betting in the country as yet. There are no laws
in Bolivia which make online gaming and betting illegal in the country,
therefore, residents in Bolivia can play and bet at sites licensed out of the
country without any fear of getting caught, but one has to do so with caution
as there is no player protection.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Online gambling and betting situations in Bosnia and Herzegovina are

undefined. At one time, the Ministry of Finance ordered national banks to
block all credit card transactions to and from gaming and betting sites, also
restrict access to offshore sites, but a nation-wide outrage erupted over night
which led to the ban being withdrawn. There are only a handful licensed
online gaming and betting operators in the country, however standardized
country-wide regulations have not yet been formed. Residents in Bosnia and
Herzegovina can freely join any online casino and betting site licensed and
regulated out of the country.
Brazil

Most forms of gambling in the country is banned. In Brazil, gambling and

betting is only permitted on selected race tracks, government-operated
lotteries and low-stake gambling between family members. There is no
licensing process for online gambling and betting in Brazil. Also there is no
law which states that online gaming and betting is illegal in the country, and
no court cases have been brought against individuals for gambling or betting
online. Residents in Brazil can join online casinos and betting sites which are
licensed and regulated out of the country, but one has to play and bet with
caution, since the gambling laws in the country are not clear and also
because the player is gambling and betting without any protection.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria started regulating online gaming and betting in the country, back in 2013.
The high tax introduced, kept out operators from obtaining a Bulgarian license, but a
year later, a more attractive option was offered, which immediately attracted
renowned gaming and betting companies to offer their services in Bulgaria. Although
legally, residents in Bulgaria can only join online casinos and betting sites licensed
and regulated in country, Bulgarians still play and bet at sites licensed out of the
country, although one has to be careful when doing so.

Burkina Faso

Land-based gambling in Burkina Faso is legal, and monopolized by the government,

but there are no laws addressing online gambling. Burkina Faso is one of the poorest
countries on the African continent, with an estimated less than 15% of the population
having access to the internet. Younger generations are increasingly using
smartphones and tablets, and are free to play and bet on any foreign online casino
and betting sites.

Cambodia

Cambodia offers licenses for both land-based and online gambling. According

to the gambling laws in Cambodia, citizens are not allowed to enter land-
based casinos, but there is no law enforcement, and Cambodians still enter
and gamble at land-based casinos. Cambodia offers online gambling licences
to only those who have an active license for land-based gambling. By law, the
online casinos can only be accessed from inside the land-based
casinos. There are many online casinos and betting sites which are licensed
out of the country that offer their services to residents in Cambodia.
Cambodians can freely join these offshore sites, as there is no law which
prohibits residents of Cambodia from joining such sites.
Cameroon

Land-based casinos are completely licensed and legal to operate in

Cameroon. Horse race and sports betting, and lotteries are also allowed in the
country. The current gambling law, written in 1989 and modified in 2004,
makes no mention of online gambling, but measures and legal reactions are
underway, and looks like the government of Cameroon wants only strong and
reputable brands operating in the country. For the time being, there are no
laws against residents who play and bet at offshore online casinos and betting
sites, which means residents of Cameroon are free to join gambling sites
which are licensed and regulated out of the country, but without any form of
player protection.

Canada

Gambling laws in Canada were very strict and only very limited forms of
gambling were allowed. However, drastic changes to legislation in the 1970s
relaxed things quite significantly, resulting in the opening of a number of land
based casinos throughout the country, with several of the provincial
governments started operating their own lotteries and still do to this day.
Regarding online casinos, it is perfectly legal for the Canadian people to play
and bet at sites that are located offshore, however not all online gaming sites
offer their services to the Canadian people. In Canada it is illegal for online
casinos to operate within Canada; however, there are several local
government-run legal online casinos that were launched in order to generate
regional funding.

Central African Republic

In the Central African Republic there are no laws against online gambling,
however, there is evidence in doucuments found, that the government was
thinking about online gambling, with documents found refering to some sort of
taxation on online gambling in the country, but it is something that have never
materialized. Well, the government in this country have much more serious
issues to focus on. Residents of the Central African Republic can play and bet
at foreign online casinos and betting sites, however, with no protection from
the government.

Chad

Chad maintains a legal and regulated gaming market, where all categories of
games and betting products are offered by some of the best land-based
casinos on the entire African continent. A license must be obtained and tax
has to be paid to operate legally on the territory of Chad, with any company
conducting illegal wagering may face high monetary penalties and short term
imprisonment. The gambling laws do not specifically address the issue of
online gambling, and there are no online casinos with servers hosted within
Chad's borders, therefore, it is neither allowed nor prohibited. Residents of
Chad who wish to play and bet online are free to do so at any foreign online
casino and betting site that will accept them.

Chile

The country offers online lottery and limited forms sports betting. Chile has
been in the process to legalize online gambling for some time and lawmakers
also introduced bills that would allow online gambling and establish a
licensing process, but beside that, not much has been done to start licensing
online casinos and betting sites in the country. Residents in Chile can join
online casinos and betting sites which are licensed out of the country, but one
must play with caution as there is no player protection.

China

Online gambling is prohibited in China with the exception of the Welfare

Lottery and the Sports Lottery. Offshore online casinos and betting sites still
offer their services to residents in China, but according to article 303 of the
criminal law, Chinese who are caught gambling could be imprisoned for up to
3 years and also fined.

Colombia

Land-based gambling in Colombia is regulated. There is no law which states

that online gaming and betting is illegal in the country, but the government
says otherwise, in fact offshore online gaming and betting operators which are
caught offering their services in the country could be fined and banned for up
to five years. It doesn't seem to make much sense, banning an operator when
there is no licensing process. The Feria Andina de Juegos de Azar is a huge
annual event in which many online gaming companies mostly from South
America take part. Since there is no licensing process, residents in Colombia
can join online casinos and betting sites which are licensed out of the country,
but one has to play and bet with caution since there is no player protection.

Comoros
Anjouan is the main island of the Comoro Islands when it comes to online
gambling regulation, with the Betting and Gaming Act of 2005 making the
Anjouan Corporate Services Ltd. in charge of handling licenses and
everything to do with the industry. The lax rules and lack of enforcement has
turned the process into little more than a rubber stamp, with no matter how big
or small your operation, you are charged a yearly fee of the same amount.
There is no real player protection when playing at a gambling site that is
licensed by Anjouan Corporate Services, also it is unclear whether residents
of the Comoro Islands may play only at sites licensed in the country or if they
could also join any offshore online casino and betting site.

Cote d'Ivoire

There is no standardized licensing process for online gambling in the Cote

d'Ivoire, as everything is set up through their national lottery portal called
Loterie National de Cote d'Ivoire (LONACI), which originally started out as a
national lottery. In 2012, the company started providing also sports betting
and horse racing capabilities through a number of betting shops, website and
mobile app, however they do not offer online poker and casino games.
Players are protected by the regulated lottery, horse racing and sports betting,
and have a good reputation for taking player complaints seriously. Residents
of Ivory Coast who would like to play casino games could do so by joining
offshore online casinos and betting sites, but are advised to stick to sites that
have a good reputation, since they would have no player protection from
government.

Croatia

Online gaming and betting have been regulated since 2010 in Croatia. Sports
betting, bingo, keno and games can be accessed through the Croatian Lottery
site. Online casinos are regulated differently by the Ministry of Finance, and
for one to operate an online casino in Croatia requires to have a license for a
land-based casino, so basically, by law, residents in Croatia can only join an
online casino licensed and regulated in Croatia.

Cyprus

The legal provisions currently in Cyprus ban online casinos, poker and
exchange betting, but allow and regulate online sports betting. The Betting
Law 2012 regulates both land-based and online sports betting activities and
services, but horse racing and dog racing betting are prohibited. On the other
hand, OPAP, the state’s lottery and sports betting company from Greece has
been exempt from the gambling law, which upset many international gambling
operators and entire Northern Cyprus (Turkish majority in North). International
gambling operators have argued that Cyprus goes against EU policies by
providing unfair advantage to OPAP, however, there have been no sanctions
on the part of the European Union. Interestingly, gambling laws are much
more lax in the Turkish part of Cyprus despite it being muslim majority, and
has about 80% of the casinos in Cyprus, though these laws are not
acknowledged by the Cypriot government. There are no laws which prohibit
Cypriots from playing and betting at offshore gaming and betting sites.

Czechia

The Czech Republic has a licensing process in place, but it includes a

massive tax collection, which only allured five gaming companies, with one of
them going bankrupt. Residents in the Czech Republic can freely join any
online casino and betting site licensed and regulated out of the country. It is
perfectly legal to join any gambling site in Czechia.

Denmark

Online gambling is completely regulated in Denmark, and is one of the most

secure jurisdictions in the world. Danske Spil maintains complete control over
lottery and number games, also betting on any type of animal racing. The
Danish Gambling Authority approves licences of online casinos, and residents
in Denmark can only join online casinos licensed and regulated in the country.

Djibouti

Certain forms of casino gambling are legal in Djibouti, and there are multiple
land-based casinos that do well in the country. There is a lack of interest in
pushing for any type of regulation of the online gambling industry, and no
licensing process exists for online gambling sites in Djibouti, though they do
have licensing for land-based casinos. Residents of Djibouti need to be sure
they play and bet with reputable offshore gaming and betting sites, since there
is no licensing process, and there are no player protections of any kind for
online gambling in Djibouti.

Ecuador

After many years in which land-based casinos where legal, in 2011, a

referendum held by President Correa outlawed gambling, which saw around
200 land-based casinos closing. It is not clear if the law also includes online
gaming and betting, as online gambling is never mentioned, but no player has
ever been charged for gambling online. Residents in Ecuador must gamble
online with caution when joining online casinos and sports betting sites which
are licensed and regulated out of the country. Remember that the laws are not
clear, also there is no player protection.

Egypt

Egypt has one of the most colorful histories, and gambling has been a part of
this history which dates back thousands of years. But being a predominantly
Muslim nation, the Qur'an’s stance on gambling is very clear. The Egyptian
government has allowed over 25 licensed casinos to operate throughout
Egypt, but are only open to tourists. Residents are prohibited from gambling in
these casinos, but can play the lottery and place sports bets. Online gambling
in Egypt is not regulated, and not even mentioned in Egyptian laws, therefore
residents in Egypt can play and bet at offshore online casinos and betting
sites, but without any form of player protection.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea have a licensing process for land-based casinos, however

there are no laws specifically on online gambling. this licensing process is
fairly strict. There are no laws specifically about online gambling in Equatorial
Guinea, but it's unclear if existing laws that apply to land-based gambling
apply to the online space. With no licensing process for online gambling, and
no mention of online gambling in the country laws, we assume that residents
of Equatorial Guinea may join offshore online casinos and betting sites which
accept players from this country.

Eritrea

No licensing process exists for any form of gambling in Eritrea, however,

Islamic law forbids all forms of gambling. The only form of gamling game in
Eritrea is a scratch-off lottery ticket game that could be illegal under current
laws. The police forces and government officials are either being paid off by
the people running this lottery, or they don't care about enforcing laws about
gambling. Residents in Eritrea may play and bet at offshore online casinos
and betting sites since the country laws do not mention online gambling. But,
keep in mind that there are no player protections of any kind for online
gambling in Eritrea.

Estonia
Estonia has done all to keep its citizens safe, by blocking offshore sites and
also financial transactions from and to gambling sites licensed out of the
country. Online gaming and betting are completely legal in the
country. Residents in Estonia can play and bet securely at sites licensed and
regulated in the country.

Finland

All forms of gambling is legal in Finland, however Finland has gone way
against the rules of the European Union, as most online gambling in the
country is ran by a state-owned monopoly. The European Union rules, do not
allow this type of monopoly and has been forcing Finland to change the
scenario since 2007. Residents in Finland can still play at online casinos and
bet on sports at sites which are licensed out of the country.

France

France is very strict when it comes to online gambling regulation and players'
protection. In France is completely legal to play poker online, although players
can't play against other players from the rest of the world. Online sports
betting and racing betting are also legal, and such sites must be licensed in
the country. Slots and casino games are not permitted to be offered to
residents in France by sites which are licensed and regulated in the
country. Although, gambling sites must be licensed in France to offer their
service in the country, there is now law which states that residents in France
can't join gambling sites which are licensed and regulated out of the country.

Georgia

Georgia does not license online casinos and betting sites in the
country. Residents in Georgia can freely join any online casino and betting
site licensed and regulated anywhere in the world. It is completely legal.

Germany

Germany is divided in 16 States, which all have a prime minister each, all of
which where against online betting, until things had to change when forced by
the European Commission. All states offer licences for online sports betting,
lottery and poker. It is important to know, that online casinos are not permitted
in each State of Germany. There are many resident in Germany who play
slots and casino games online, but this is done through online casinos which
are licensed and regulated out of the country, and without any player
protection.

Greece

After years of conflicts on online gambling between the European Union and
Greece, the country has only recently started to license online casinos and
sportbetting sites. There was a time in Greece, that playing console games
such as on playstation was also illegal according to the laws. These were
arranged and cleared after a decade, which also saw the country about to
start licensing gambling sites, only for plans to be abandoned in favour of a
state monopoly. More pressure from the EU led to the beginning of a more
suitable licensing process in 2017, which attracted only a few reputable
gaming and betting operators. Greece blacklists and blocks offshore gaming
and betting sites which offer their services to residents in Greece, but it is a
well known fact that players from Greece still prefer to play and bet at
gambling sites which are licensed out of the country.

Hungary

After so many battles with the European Union, the state-run monopoly for
online casinos and sports betting has broken up in recent years. Only few
gaming and betting companies are licensed in Hungary, due to the high fees
and tax. High fees and tax never attract business, and online gaming and
betting operators, prefer to offer their services to residents in Hungary while
holding a gaming license in another jurisdiction, although the government tries
to block these sites. Most Hungarians play and bet at offshore sites, but these
are doing so without any player protection.

India

India has no online gambling regulations in place, although there was a time
when they tried to block gambling sites, but there efforts were not
successful. Land-based lotteries and horse racing betting are legal in India,
also some states such as Goa and Sikkim have regulated land-based
casinos. Betting and gambling plays a huge part in India's history, and citizens
here do like to gamble. Online gambling in India is done through gaming and
betting sites licensed and regulated out of the country. A problem they might
encounter is, that there is no player protection when doing so.

Indonesia
Indonesia is governed under Islamic law, and online gambling is illegal,
although the Government is not interested in punishing its citizens. There
have been no publications of anyone being punished gor gambling online in
Indonesia. Indonesians are well known for their love to gamble, and they do
so at online casinos and betting sites which are licensed out of the country.
Technically, all Indonesians who gamble are breaking the law, also not
offered any kind of player protection.

Iran

Like most countries under Islamic law, Iran has a ban on all forms of
gambling. This is generally understood to include online gambling, though
there are no clear laws describing such, as the laws are out dated to when
online gaming and betting didnt exist. Unlike most countries under Islamic
Law, this ban is largely ignored and not really policed on any level.
Practically, residents of Iran can join offshore online casinos and betting sites,
however players should practice caution if they do decide to play and bet, and
should keep in mind that they will not have any kind of protection if any
withdrawal disputes arise with an offsore gaming and betting site.

Iraq

In Iraq all forms of gambling are illegal. According to the 1969 Penal Code,
anyone who participates in gambling activities can face a fine or a prison
sentence, with sentences even harsher for the operators. As a result there
aren’t any legal land-based and online casinos, but despite being illegal, some
forms of gambling still occur in Iraq. Online gambling is illegal too and foreign
online casinos and betting sites are blocked by the government.

Israel

National lottery and betting on horse racing, football and basketball among
other sports are the only forms of gambling allowed in Israel. Israel does not
offer online gaming and betting licenses in the country, but there is a good
number of online gaming and betting companies that operate from Israel. It is
illegal for residents in Israel to join an online casino. The Government has
been trying to block gambling sites also called on credit card processing
companies to stop issuing payments from such sites.

Italy
Online gaming and betting is completely regulated in Italy. Italy offers one of
the best player protection services, also have harsh penalties for those
gaming companies who don't abide by the rules. Residents in Italy can only
join online casinos and sports betting sites licensed and regulated by the
AAMS in Italy, although one can still find gaming and betting sites licensed out
of the country which offer their services to the Italians.

Japan

Japan has a general ban on most gambling activities with the exception of
lotteries, scratch cards, and horse racing and football betting among some
other sports. Japan does not have a standard regulatory body, instead they
gave permissions on a case by case basis to a handful of companies to offer
gambling services in the country. These companies are still controlled and
must abide by a set of rules. Residents in Japan still join online casinos and
betting sites which are licensed out of the country, but when joining such
sites, there is no player protection. No one has ever been charged for playing
and betting at offshore sites, or at least there aren't any public cases known
of.

Jordan

Jordan is a country completely governed by Islamic law, which under this rule
law, every form of gambling is illegal, including gambling online. The laws on
gambling are enforced strongly, and the punishments for being caught
gambling, online or otherwise, are severe. We do not recommend anyone
from Jordan to gamble online, as the risk from punishment is too great to be
reasonable.

Kazakhstan

Online gambling in Kazakhstan is legalized. The country offers licenses to

online sport betting, online poker and other games. But it is illegal for these
operators to offer slots and casino games. Residents in Kazakhstan can freely
join any online casino which is licensed and regulated out of the country. The
government simply permits citizens to join any online casino licensed out of
the country.

Kenya

Gambling laws in Kenya were established in 1966 with the introduction of the
Betting Lotteries and Gaming Act. The Betting Control and Licensing Board
was established to issue gambling licenses and enforces regulations in all
gambling sectors including land-based casinos, bingo halls, betting shops,
and horse racing tracks which are all state-run monopolies. Online gambling
in Kenya is also regulated and was a state monopoly too, but the company -
Betkenya.com closed up leaving no legal options for online casino and
betting. Residents in Kenya can play and bet at offshore online casinos and
sports betting sites, but with no player protection.

Kosovo

In 2008, Kosovo officially declared independence, and interestingly, the first

gambling regulator here was established in 2000. In 2013, Kosovo
established an official set of laws to regulate the gambling industry, which
made it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to gamble, and forced gambling
establishments to obtain licenses in order to operate. In 2019, Kosovo's
politicians have unanimously agreed to shut down all casinos and games of
chance ahead of a full legal overhaul, but since then all gambling activities
have remained illegal. Online gaming and betting in Kosovo are also
technically illegal.

Kuwait

All forms of gambling are illegal in Kuwait, and this includes online activities.
Kuwait is known for showing little to no tolerance for people who flaunt the
gambling laws, and there have been numerous reports of individuals arrested
for running illegal online gambling operations. We do not recommend
residents of Kuwait to play and bet at offshore online casinos and sports
betting sites. The risks are too high because of the hostile political and
enforcement climate.

Latvia

Latvia has a licensing process in place and regulates all sorts of online
gambling and betting, however there is only a handful of licensed and
regulated operators in the country. Latvia is also constantly updating it's
blacklist, which consists of online casinos and sports betting sites which are
licensed out of the country. It is illegal for residents in Latvia to join online
casinos and betting sites which are licensed and regulated out of the country.
It is also highly not recommended to join such sites, as if such sites get
blacklisted and blocked in the country, one would not have access for the
funds in their site account.
Lebanon

Lebanon have some what a shady way of handling the gambling situation,
with the government owning a large percentage of land-based casino
operations in the country, and residents can only wager online at
PlayLebanon, a site that offers lottery tickets on the internet, which is actually
not licensed since there is no actual standardized process for receiving a
license in this country. There are no laws against online gambling, but the
government blocks most online gambling sites on ISP level in a way to protect
his land-based casinos. Residents of Lebanon are allowed to play on some
foreign online casinos and betting sites that have slipped past the ISP-level
blacklist.

Libya

All forms of gambling are illegal in Libya, and no licensing process for any
type of gambling exists in the country. Gambling with foreign operators would
probably come with a very small chance of getting caught and an even
smaller chance of being charged with anything because the police and
government officials are busy with more important issues. Libyan residents
who want to bet at offshore online casinos and betting sites, must keep in
mind that there are no forms of player protections in the country for any type
of online gambling, and are doing so at their own risk.

Lithuania

Online gaming and betting is offered by not more than a handful operators in
a state-backed monopoly. Lithuania also took to court the main internet
provider in the country for not blocking online casinos and betting sites which
are licensed out of the country, but higher courts ruled that the country could
only force the internet provider to block such sites in a case of
emergency. The country has been working to a more formal licensing
process, but as things stand at the moment, this won't happen in the near
future. Citizens of Lithuania can join online casinos and betting sites which are
licensed and regulated out of the country, as there is no law which prohibits
Lithuanians from joining such sites, but doing so, one won't get player
protection.

Luxembourg

Online gambling in Luxembourg has been regulated since 2007, although

there is no formal licensing process. The only option online for the residents of
Luxembourg is the national lottery that also offers instant win type games
such as virtual scratchers. Also some online sports betting sites in Germany
have permission to offer their services to players inside of Luxembourg.
Residents of Luxembourg do not have the options to play slots and casino
games online. The laws about gambling in Luxembourg do not make any
specific reference to online games, however, they behave as if it does.
Residents of Luxembourg are protected in a major way when they play and
bet with the regulated lottery and sports betting sites in Luxembourg. Those in
Luxembourg can choose to play and bet with foreign operators, since the
government doesn't really enforce any type of ban on that sort of play.
However, there is no player protection offered from Luxembourg, so players
have to make sure to stick to reputable sites.

Macedonia

In 2014, the government started a monopoly on online gambling, giving a

single company, Casinos Austria, the permission to offer all sort of gambling
including online casino, poker and sports betting inside the
country. Macedonia also blacklists and blocks online casinos and betting sites
which are licensed out of the country. We don't know if there are any penalties
if one gets caught joining a gaming and betting site licensed out of the
country, but we wouldn't recommend to do so, as if such sites get blocked in
the country, the player won't have access to the funds in the sites' account.

Madagascar

Madagascar's online gambling laws are unclear and really confusing.

Madagascar allow casino games online in their laws, however there is no
mention in their laws of any gambling aside from a law which dates back to
the 1960s that prohibits lotteries, but licenses are given for land-based
casinos. There are no laws making online gambling and betting with foreign
sites illegal, so residents of Madagascar have no problem joining foreign
operators.

Malaysia

Online gaming and betting is not illegal in Malaysia, although operating an

online gambling company in the country is illegal. The Malaysian government
seems not to be interested in changing things and the influence of Sharia law
is largely what keeps this from happening. Residents in Malaysia can join any
online casino and sports betting site which is licensed and regulated out of the
country.
Mali

The laws of Mali are heavily influenced by Islam, and all forms of gambling
are completely, and explicitly illegal including online gambling. Some level of
internet-connection regulation is also in place, but it's unclear if citizens would
be able to access foreign online casinos. We recommend that residents of
Mali should stay away from online gambling because of the stiff penalties that
are likely to come if charged.

Mauritania

The influence of Islam is particularly heavy in Mauritania, however, it's not

clear if this extends to online gaming, and it's also not clear if this is an actual
ban that makes gambling illegal, since the laws are totally outdated. While
there aren't any publicized cases of police or government officials going after
people for gambling online, residents of Mauritania are reminded that they are
playing and betting on offshore sites at their own risk.

Mauritius

Online gambling is illegal for the residents of Mauritius, however the country
allowed companies to operate from inside their borders since 1996. The
government is actively attempting to block gambling transactions and sites
that players would access, however site blocking these days is not so
successful anywhere because that number of sites and domain names grows
faster than the filter can keep up. The government shows how serious the
country is about the illegal status of online gambling, and residents could face
penalties if caught gambling with online casinos and betting sites.

Mongolia

There where many attempts in order to regulate land-based gambling, but all
have failed, with the government now seems to have given up. It is not clear if
online gaming and betting is legal or not in the country, although it is illegal to
operate an online gambling company in Mongolia. There are many online
casinos and betting sites which are licensed out of the country which offer
their services to residents in Mongolia. As said, the laws are not clear, and
one has to be cautious when joining such sites.

Montenegro
Montenegro has a special Gambling Law that regulates the rights and
obligations of gambling establishments, who receive great development
support, which is why they have the opportunity to provide large prizes in
lotteries and other types of gambling. A license for gambling in Montenegro is
necessary for every entrepreneur who is going to establish a gambling
business in the real or virtual world. An online gambling license can only be
issued to an operator who already owns a license of land-based gambling.
Online casinos can accept players from different countries, however, the rules
of the country must be respected. There are no laws which prohobits
residents of Montenegro to play and bet at offshore online casinos and betting
sites.

Morocco

Despite being a Muslim country, gambling is legal in Morocco, and is home to

no less than 7 land-based casinos. There is also a national lottery that
includes sports betting. Moroccan gambling laws do not address online
gaming and the country does not issue online gambling licenses. Residents in
Morocco can join most offshore online casinos and betting sites without
breaking any law.

New Zealand

The New Zealand government has legislated gambling way back in 2003, with
the Gambling Act stating that residents in New Zealand are not allowed to
participate in online gambling if the operators’ website is located within the
country, however it is legal for New Zealand residents to gamble and bet
online at offshore sites, which means it is perfectly legal for Kiwis to play and
bet at online casinos, poker sites and bookmakers which are located outside
the country.

Nigeria

Gambling in Nigeria is regulated by the National Lottery Regulatory

Commission, and was legalized with the National Lottery Act, 2005 and
defined by Chapter 22 of the Criminal Code Act enacted in 1990. The law
splits the games into two categories: The legal and illegal games. The legal
games are lottery, land-based casino, and sports betting. Roulette, dice
games, and non-skilled card games are illegal. Nigerian law does not mention
online casinos and there is no restriction for the people to play on local or
foreign online casinos. Residents in Nigeria can play at online casinos without
breaking any laws.
North Korea

Land-based and online gambling is totally illegal in the country.

Norway

There is no licensing process in Norway, instead the government opted to

monopolize online gambling and sports betting and given permission for
Norsk Riskoto to offer horse racing betting services and Norsk Tipping to offer
sports betting, poker, lottery and other games. It is important to know that it is
illegal for residents in Norway to join online gaming and betting sites which
are licensed and regulated out of the country. The government doesn't
enforce this law, and those who want to join offshore gaming and betting
sites, can do so without any fear of being punished, but one must use the right
banking method which is not subject to the 2010 Payment Act, which prevents
banks from handling payments in Norway. We recommend to always join
online gaming and betting sites which offer their services in Norwegian
language and have a reputation for handling Norwegian players and most
importantly transactions.

Oman

Oman is a country that is completely under Islamic law, and all types of
gambling is deemed illegal, however, the government doesn't seem to care
too much about clamping down when it comes to the ability to play and bet
online with foreign operators. Although not recommended, many people in
Oman still play and bet online through foreign gambling sites.

Palestine

Palestine is a country that is not officially recognized by many countries in the

world, with their laws on primarily come from Islamic law, which makes it
illegal to gamble in any form, however, there are no specific laws that mention
online gambling. Palestine is in the middle of a volatile situation with war on
every border, and online gambling is the last thing that the government has on
its mind. Since there are no laws regarding online gambling, many in the
country play and bet at offshore sites despite the fact that there are no
government protections for players.

Paraguay
No online gaming and betting licensing process exists in Paraguay and there
has never been a law addressing online gambling in anyway. While online
gambling seems to be legal in the country, the government's view on online
gambling is that it is a form of offshore banking. Offshore banking is illegal in
Paraguay. No citizen has ever been charged for gambling online, but one
must be cautious when playing and betting online with sites which are
licensed out of the country.

Peru

Since 2008, online gambling in Peru is completely regulated on a federal

level. Residents in Peru can play and bet on sites licensed in the country, and
get full player protection. Unlike most other regulated countries, residents in
Peru can also join online casinos and betting sites which are licensed out of
the country, but doing so, one would be playing without any player protection.

Poland

In Poland, only sports betting is legal, but they have a pretty ineffective
system and there is no enforcement on the ban. Sports betting operators tend
to stay away because of the countries high fees and the ineffective system,
with only a handful of betting companies are licensed to operate in the
country. Online gambling at offshore sites is illegal, but since there is a lack of
enforcement, residents in Poland can join online casinos and sports betting
sites which are licensed out of the country without any fear to get fined and
penalized.

Portugal

Portugal has put together a regulatory framework back in 2015, which allowed
foreign operators to enter the country. However, with the ridiculously high tax
imposed, the country only attracted a few online gaming and betting
operators. The high tax is a result of pressure from land-based casinos and
lobbies, who claim that online gaming and betting is killing their business.
Residents in Portugal can only join online casinos and betting sites which are
licensed and regulated in the country.

Qatar

While Qatar is a progressive country in many areas, the legal system is based
on Islamic law, where all forms of gambling are illegal. Qatar has not enforced
their ban in any major way on online gambling, aside from some cursory
attempts at blacklisting, with many residents of Qatar play and bet regularly at
offshore online casinos and betting sites. There are no player protections from
the government in Qatar, so the people of Qatar are doing this at their own
risk. We recommend residents of Qatar to play and bet at reputable gaming
and betting sites, making sure they can easily withdraw any winnings.

Romania

Romania has a licensing body, and only operators which are licensed in the
country can offer their services to the Romanian citizens. Residents in
Romania can only join online casinos and sports betting sites which are
licensed in the country. It is not recommended for players to join gaming and
betting sites which are licensed out of the country since the government tries
to block transactions, also blacklists and blocks such sites, which could result
in players unable to retrieve funds from their accounts.

Russia

When it comes to land-based gambling in Russia, it is only permitted in just

four areas in the country. Any land-based gambling out of these areas is
illegal. A law passed in 2016, also states that online gambling is illegal in the
country, however many offshore sites still offer their services in Russia,
although many of these get blacklisted by the government also blocked by
internet service providers. The government also blocks financial transactions
from online gaming and betting sites. Residents in Russia who join online
casinos and betting sites, are doing so at their own risk, since their is no
player protection, also such sites could be blocked at any time with players
not being able to retrieve funds from their accounts.

Rwanda

The governing body for all gambling in Rwanda is Lotto Rwanda, with the first
land-based casino in the country licensed in 2008. There's no licensing
process available for online gambling sites in Rwanda, and there are no laws
against online gambling in the country, so residents of Rwanda should have
no problem playing and betting with foreign sites.

Saudi Arabia

The influence of Islamic law in Saudi Arabia has created a situation where all
form of gambling are expressly prohibited by law. The penalties for violating
this law are relatively severe, and residents of Saudi Arabia are not
recommended to try play and bet online. The Saudi Arabian government is
also aggressive with blocking gambling sites and keeping up with new
domains, and it would be very easy to have money on a gambling site that
you're blocked from because a site is suddenly blocked at the ISP level by the
government.

Senegal

Gambling in Senegal is legal, and have both land-based casinos and a

national lottery. Senegal have a very strict licensing process regarding land-
based casinos. The Senegalese laws do not mention online gambling and
betting, which means that there are no laws against online gambling.
Residents in Senegal can freely join most offshore online casinos and betting
sites, but have no form of player protection available.

Serbia

Serbia has been licensing and regulating online gaming and betting sites
since 2011. Serbia are very strict regarding online gambling, and license only
operators with a good reputation. The government also blacklist those sites
who try to offer their services in the country without a license. It is illegal for
residents in Serbia to play and bet at sites which are licensed out of the
country.

Singapore

Singapore has made it clear that online gambling and betting is completely
illegal with the exception for a handful lottery games operated by the
Government.

Slovakia

Slovakia are completely regulated jurisdiction and have a license process in

place, but there are no licensed online casinos and betting sites due to the
very high tax imposed. Slovakia does not block offshore online casinos and
betting sites, so basically the regulatory body in the country is virtually
useless. Residents in Slovakia can join online casinos and betting sites which
are licensed out of the country, but must play with caution since they have no
player protection.
Slovenia

Slovenia does not have an online gambling licensing process. In Slovenia,

there is no law which states that online gambling is illegal in the country, but in
the past, the government tried to block online casinos and betting sites which
targeted Slovenian citizens. However, their attempt to block offshore sites was
a complete failure. Residents in Slovenia can join online casinos and betting
sites which are licensed out off the country, however one must play with
caution as there is no player protection, also the government might attempt to
block the sites once again.

South Africa

The National Gambling Act of 2004, made it illegal to engage in internet

gambling services and offering or advertising of these services to residents in
South Africa. This covers both casino games and poker games, however
online betting on sports and horses is legal with a licensed South African
bookmaker, but South Africans cannot gamble with international companies
from within the Republic. Although online casinos are deemed illegal in the
country, there are many South Africans who play casino games at offshore
online casinos, but these have to be careful since they don't have any player
protection from the South African National Gambling Board.

South Korea

Land-based gambling in South Korea is legal, but citizens of the country are
not permitted to enter these casinos. Online gambling is completely legal in
South Korea, as long as the gaming company is not operating from inside the
country. So, residents in South Korea can join any online casino and betting
site which is licensed and regulated out of the country.

Spain

Spain was one of the first European countries to regulate online gambling,
although online slots and betting exchange only became legal in the country
in 2015. Spain are very strict when it comes to processing online gaming and
betting licences, also offer a good player protection to it's citizens. Residents
in Spain can only join online casinos and betting sites which are licensed in
the country.

Sudan
Sudan is a country that is completely under Islamic law, and all forms of
gambling are currently illegal, including online gambling. Our recommendation
to residents of Sudan is to not try to gamble online, as the law is very specific
in banning all forms of gambling, and there are no forms of player protection,
also the punishments for gambling could be particularly severe.

Switzerland

While land-based casinos have been legal in Switzerland since 2000, the
online gambling legalization came into force in July 2019. Previously
governed by separate legal acts - the Federal Act on Games of Chance and
Casinos (FGA), and The Federal Act on Lotteries and Commercial Betting
(SLA) with iGaming banned, all gambling activities are now regulated by the
Money Gambling Act (MGA). The MGA delivered notable changes to the
Switzerland gambling market by including abolishing iGaming ban, introducing
ISP blocking of foreign online gambling sites, legalizing small-scale poker
tournaments, and implementing new measures for player protection. Only
existing holders of a land-based casino license can offer online games, and
the MGA does not allow foreign operators to enter the Swiss market, with
those trying will be blacklisted and blocked by internet service providers.
Residents of Switzerland can only play and bet at online casinos which are
licensed in the country.

Syria

Syria is a country known for being in the middle of war on a regular basis, with
political figures don't really have time to sit around discussing the finer points
of online gambling. While the country is under Islamic law, and there are no
land-based casinos, there is basically no enforcement of any laws against
online gambling, but also, the country doesn't have excellent Internet access
in all regions. There are plenty of people who gamble on the Internet from this
country with no problem, and the police seem to have no interest in enforcing
any ban on those activities, however residents of Syria should practice
caution if they do decide to play and bet at offshore sites.

Taiwan

The only permitted sort of gambling in Taiwan is the Sports Lottery, but is
terribly run along with terrible odds. There is no law which prohibits residents
from playing at online casinos and betting on sites which are licensed out of
the country, but some citizens have been arrested regardless.
Tajikistan

Tajikistan had land-based casinos until 2009, when land-based gambling was
explicitly outlawed. However, there are no laws against gambling online, and
the people in the country freely play and bet online with offshore gambling
sites, but most people here access computers through internet cafes.
Residents of Tajikistan should keep themselves safe by only playing and
betting with reputable sites, since there isn't protection from the government.

Tanzania

Online gambling has been legal since 1999 in Tanzania. Licenses can be
given by the Gaming Board of Tanzania for any type of online gambling
including lotteries, sports betting, casino gambling, poker and other forms of
gambling. If residents of Tanzania play and bet with a site licensed in
Tanzania, then, the Gaming Board will handle all complaints and requests for
investigations, and they take this very seriously. Residents of Tanzania are
also free to play and bet at foreign sites, however you will not have the same
kind of protections from the government.

Thailand

Most forms of gambling is illegal in Thailand, although the laws do not

specifically mention playing and betting on the internet. Statistics show that
more than 50% of the residents in Thailand are gamblers. Police in Thailand
have no interest in charging people for gambling. There are many offshore
online casinos and betting sites which offer their services in Thailand. One
has simply to be cautious as there is no player protection when joining such
sites.

Tunisia

Tunisia do have a licensing process for land-based casinos, but have no

system for licensing online gambling. The government of Tunisia made it
illegal for foreign gambling sites to operate within the country, also made it
illegal for residents to play and bet with foreign sites. Tunisians still play and
bet at offshore online casinos and sports betting sites in spite of the laws that
are in place because of the lack of enforcement, but have no player protection
should any issues arise.

Turkey
The only site permitted to offer gambling services in Turkey is IDDAA, which
offers just sports betting. All other forms of gambling has been banned in the
country since 2007. The government blacklists online casinos and betting
sites which are licensed out of the country that try to offer their services to the
Turkish. Also huge fines and penalties are in place for those who are caught
gambling at offshore sites. It is not recommended for residents in Turkey to
join offshore gaming and betting sites.

Ukraine

Ukraine does not have an online gambling license process in place, and law
states clear that online operators can't offer their services in the
country. However there is no law which states that residents in Ukraine can't
join gaming and betting sites which are licensed out of the country. No one
has ever been fined for gambling online. The government does not blacklist
gambling sites, also does not try to block transactions from such sites.
Residents in Ukraine can join online casinos and betting sites which are
licensed out of the country, but must do so with caution.

United Arab Of Emirates

The United Arab Emirates have banned every form of online gambling, part of
a larger ban on lots of different types of computer based content. Residents of
United Arab Emirates who get caught gambling could be sentenced to two
years in prison, so we suggest to avoid gambling online.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was the first country in which gambling became
regulated by laws and restricted only to authorized places, which go back
centuries when gambling was a privilege of royalties and gentlemen. In the
present day, the United Kingdom have become more strict about gambling
and betting, and constantly campaigning on gambling problem, a pastime
which saw many people becoming addictive, losing all their money, breaking
families and also end lives. For this reason, residents in the United Kingdom
can only play and bet at online casinos and sportsbooks which are licensed
and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. All gaming and betting sites
licensed in the United Kingdom allow players to set their gambling limits also
to temporary self-exclude themselves from gambling.

United States of America

Online gaming and betting in the United States is a fairly complex subject.
Many US online players and punters mistakenly believe that it is illegal to join a
gaming and betting site. In the beginning of online gaming there was no law in
the United States that explicitly called online gaming and betting an illegal
activity. However when the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA)
came into force in 2006, many gaming and betting sites were forced to close to
US residents due to banking restrictions. In April 2011, came the darkest day in
the online gaming history, known as the Black Friday, which saw the U.S.
Department of Justice arresting and fining online gaming operators, with many
US residents ending not receiving the funds they had in the gaming site's
accounts. For some years the .com domain was also blocked by the U.S.
Department of Justice, and this is the reason why most US-facing gaming sites
still hold domains such as .eu, as the FBI could not seize such domains. The
grey area continue to exist when it comes to the question of legality of online
gaming and sports betting. In recent years, we have seen a few States
legalizing online gaming and sports betting, but in such States, legally,
residents can only join gaming and betting sites which are licensed and
regulated in the same state they reside. When joining an off-shore gaming and
betting site, we recommend to use cryptocurrency as banking method.

Uruguay

In Uruguay the only regulated form of online gambling is lottery, sports lottery
and horse racing. Uruguay does not license online gambling, but at the same
time its is not illegal. In other words, residents in Uruguay can freely join
online casinos and sports betting sites which are licensed out of the country.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan are very clear about gambling, and in the country all forms of
gambling is illegal, and the government seems to be enforcing the law year
after year. There are severe punishments for those caught gambling, so it is
not recommended to gamble if you are in Uzbekistan.

Venezuela

Online gambling in Venezuela is fully regulated, but only few gaming and
betting sites are licensed and regulated in the country. Residents in
Venezuela can play and bet on sites licensed in the country, and get full
player protection. Unlike most other regulated countries, residents in
Venezuela can also join online casinos and betting sites which are licensed
and regulated out of the country, but doing so, one would be playing and
betting without any player protection.
Vietnam

Land-based casinos do exist in Vietnam, but locals are not allowed to enter,
as gambling is completely illegal in the country. Thousands of Vietnamese
cross to their neighbouring country Cambodia, just to gamble. Online
gambling is also illegal in the country, and individuals where also sentenced to
prison for gambling. It is not recommended to gamble online if you are in
Vietnam.

Yemen

Online gambling is illegal in Yemen, however, there aren't really any reports of
people being charged, arrested or prosecuted for gambling in this country,
with many residents of Yemen gambling at offshore sites. While, we do not
recommend gambling from this country, residents of Yemen should play and
bet at reputable foreign gambling sites, since there is no player protection
from the goverments if any complaints should arise.